it was one of the most empowering moments because I just realized, you know what, if I want

something, I don't have to worry about hurting somebody else to get it, I can make it.

From Seamwork Magazine, I'm Sari Mitnick, and this is Seamwork Radio, where we tell stories from people who make

clothing. No matter how strong your beliefs, sometimes it takes a personal experience to really

crystallize those beliefs into action. It's easy to think about the suffering of the world

in an abstract sort of way,

but when you see it firsthand, that's when it can be life-changing. That was the case for

Jackie Pellhagi, a sewer in San Francisco who writes the blog, Birds of a Thread. Jackie's

always cared deeply about creating a better world and about buying in a responsible, ethical way.

But it was a specific experience halfway around the world that forever changed the way she saw her own responsibility.

A quick note, there is some mild adult language used in this conversation, so if you have kids listening, just be aware of that.

Jackie learned to sew when she was just a little girl. I've always loved clothes and definitely

played a lot of dress-up. I was also really picky. So it drove my mom insane because we'd try to

go shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding or Christmas and I would

always be like, no, no, no, don't like that one, don't like that one. So eventually she would just like,

fine, we'll sew you something. So that's kind of partly how I got into sewing is because my mom

did sew, but also because I was just so damn picky and still am,

that it's easier to just make it yourself.

She wasn't exactly a girly girl, even though she did love dressing up.

She also loved playing in the dirt with her brothers and doing all kinds of crafty projects.

It's definitely a creative kid.

I was also homeschooled for most of elementary school, and so that

...